Rockets BCMML champs

For the 1st time since 2005-2006, the Okanagan Rockets are the BCMML champions.

The Rockets got the go ahead goal from Jake Kryski 4:58 into the 3rd period and were able to hang on to defeat the Vancouver NW Giants 4-3. That was all they needed to take the BCMML championship series two games to none.

The Rockets led 1-0 after 20 minutes thanks to a 1st period marker from Tyson Jost. The goal was Jost's 9th of the playoffs. Shots in the opening period favoured Vancouver 14-10.

It took just 1:38 of the 2nd period for the Rockets to push their lead to 2-0 as Liam Finlay netted his 11th of the post season.

As expected, the Giants began to push back and netted two in the 2nd period to pull even.

The last minute of the second period was full of excitement. The Rockets got a go-ahead marker off the stick of Carter Hikichi with just 48 seconds left in the 2nd period to re-take the lead at 3-2.

It was short lived. The Giants scored a wild one with just 3.8 seconds left in the period to pull even once again. A shot went high and wide, but bounced off the glass and back out in front where it hit an unsuspecting Rockets defenceman in the back and went in.

Kryski's game winning marker was also his second series winning goal in as many weekends.

Brendan Barry improved to 6-1 in the playoffs and made 37 saves on the night. In the championship final, Barry was 2-0 and stopped 78 of 82 shots for a .951 sv %

The Okanagan Rockets will now move on to the Pacific Regional Championship held this year in Alberta. The Rockets will travel to the winner of the series between Red Deer and Lloydminster. The Chiefs currently lead the best of 5 series, 1 game to none.

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